Bobbybass

I have 4 powder extinguishers down the length of the boat with one being at the stern.....I also have a 2kg CO2 at the stern as I figured I could empty it down the engine hatch and flood the compartment with gas should there be an engine fire.. I do like the idea of the automatic unit above........looks good for if you're down the front admiring the view... Bob

I haven't used one on a boat....but years ago (when I was young and even more stupid)..was helping a friend weld a car floor... Unknown to me ..he had drained the engine oil into a plastic bowl that was under the car.. THe oil ignited.....the bowl melted...the flames.( a gallon of oil or more ) ..flooded the floor...... I had a small powder extinguisher to hand...and surprisingly...it tackled the entire fire... A lot of lessons learned that day !!!! That small powder extinguisher was great. Bob

THe important thing is.....it needs to be : Adapatable for all sizes......adjustable for all sizes. and angleable........secure and bolted down....because we don't like to fiddle about with getting things for one size alone... and FREE...we dont like to pay for anything !!!.. Bob

I'd like to confirm the solar panel request.... It needs to hold the panels...be easy tilltable and rotatable...but will need to bolt down ( easily as we have short attention spans for such things ) so no tea-leafs can also enjoy your panels... It would need to be easily adaptable as there are so many solar panel sizes....( mine are about 1.5 metre by 510mm)... While your at it...can you give me the lottery numbers and walk on water...? Bob

We dont 'do' Valentines cards.... Instead we visit a card shop...and pick cards.....and then I say 'this is the one I would have bought for you'...and she does likewise.... We then spend the money on a meal.. A friend of mine did ask ' Do you go for a meal...say 'this is what we would have had'...and then go home for sausages !! Bob

a birthday card......a box of chocs...and some perfume called 'Pour Elle'...for the wifes birthday....AND change from a fiver.... Gawd bless the pound shops... Bob

I like Rugby pound shop...but why buy in the pound shop...when you can get it for 99p ?? Bob

Hi.. We did some experiments and the Tescos value stuff disolved quite fast...and we use that all the time in out macerator. Re : the Andrex article above.......it is important to verify each pack type before you use it even though same marketing name. I have been 'informed' by a mate who's a buyer from M*******s that when they do the special packs....ie ' 2 for one' etc.......they often use inferior or 'lesser' standard product in the packs..... If you buy 2 for ones...you are often getting thinner / diluted / smaller / lesser product than if you bought the singles... THey also buy product that is made in a different country to the usual to keep the multi-pack price down.... I was 'told' that this is often the case with mainstream brand razor blads....they are still made by the same company...but maybe in China..!! You then need soft toilet paper to stick little bits on your chin to stem the bleeding.. Mercedes cars are like this...thats why foreign drivers use them as taxis..they are made cheaper. I bought one cheap ...and found it was made in South Africa and fell apart ! Bob

BUT..this website you have linked to .....says ' 1/4 inch below the fill neck'

My batteries were happy and healthy...and then I added extra water....after charging...disaster !!!! The US battery site that you have linked to in this article says..plates should be covered by 1/8 inch of acid... I used to do this...and got great battery life.....my Dad always said 1/8 - 1/4 inch... I then got advice that it should be 15mm ( over half inch) up to 18mm..... Just below the lip on the filler neck etc... Instantly my readings dropped...the batteries were flat in half the time time..it was a disaster... I did access umpteen websites at the time....every one offering conflicting advice about electrolyte levels... Even suppliers don't seem to be sure... My new set will have 1/4 inch and no more...!! Bob

Thought it looked good......until found it is only single program. You can have as many Apps as you like...but you can only run one at a time....you have to close each one to run another.. Seems a backward step to me.....give me multiple windows any day... Bob

All these amps and volts and still no spark of understanding from me ! Well back to my new invention...a Swiss Navy knife... Bob

I heard that in Southam...your wife / girlfriend is probably your sister..? Bob

I see that since my original theory about the signal bouncing around off the steel...that some very much more knowledagable people have replied... To the knowledagble ones : as the boat is also earthed to the supply...does it not also act as a ground plane except...its at the wrong angle ? I purchased an amplifier unit for my boat...which is amazing... Consists of an aerial that is in a cupboard of my lounge...this picks up from the dongle...amplifies the signal...and then feeds it to a flat plate aerial that I have outside on the pole with my TV aerial... It was about £270 ?...and no...I don't know the make.... It works great wherever I am...but I need internet for my work.... Its only a 3G frequency unit....I think...?...2100 Mhz Bob

Well...his books were in the shops in no time.......save the children.....heart foundation..... I got mine in Oxfam !!! Bob

As far as I know...and I may not really know...radio signals will bounce off / reflect from metal surfaces....so you may actually be receiving a reflected signal...and then you move a few feet and you receive a direct signal of a completely different strength. I was also told that mobile masts vary the signal strength sometimes...so that if it 'senses' the dongle is weak..it may boost its output slightly.. I have seen some evidence of this...but it may be wishful thinking... I have wishful thinkings a lot....but thats my secret.... Bob

Re : your monthly mobile phone... I just phoned up Orange and said 'I'm thinking of leaving'...result...anytime free landline calls...400 mins any mobile network a month...300 free texts...80G data allowance...and a new handset...cost...£10/month including VAT... Bob

Hi... Please excuse my simple understanding...which may or may not be right...re USA plugs having skinny pins... As I understand it....( and I may miss understand it....often in fact)...the different currect ratings for the plugs are not easy to equate... (Bob stops a second and is not sure he is making sense..??!!) THe lower the voltage standard...the higher the current demand...based on amps x volts = watts. In other words....if you had a hypothetical heater that is 1000 watt....and its designed to run on 120 volts it will draw 1000 divided by 120 = 8 amps. If you have the same unit....1000 watts ...designed to run on 240 volts...it will be drawing 1000 divided by 240 = 4.16 amps...... Thus...under my understanding...although the USA pins look skinny...they must be capable of taking twice the current demand of the UK

When I did my RYA inland waterways helmsmans certificate 2 years ago...(before I picked up my hire boat..that eventually lead to me purchasing my own boat)...I was told than when you are in a single lock....going up...you put the bow fender against the gates...and put the engine to drive at about 1000 RPM and keep it pressed against the gates.....reducing and then cancelling power as you rise up... Another person I know who had the same examiner/ trainer was told the same... In light of this and other tragedies is this a good thing to do..? Is it 'standard procedure'....do others do it...? Thanks... Bob

Hi again... Have pondered the 'hold lever back against spring for reverse'...sounds practical to me..... Still comes down to people understanding safety though...and stopping themselves doing something daft at a crucial moment. This is a human failing ....its the one time that you take a risk that it bites you on the bottom...s*ds law... I did this recently...years of telling people to lift heavy objects properly...and then....something refuses to come out of the car boot..I pull at an angle..WALLOP...the back is put out... As has been said here...there is knee jerk reaction....'we need safety cut outs.....we need springs...we need no rails to fall back over'...sad truth..but at times of grief and loss like this...we want someone or something to blame.... Like they say in the 'accident lawyers' advert that is currently running on TV... 'Accidents...thats when your injured by someone...or something else'... whatever happened to just being daft sometimes...and its your own fault..? Bob

As we all know...its difficult to achieve an ideal world... Obviously not on this occasion...but I have often encountered hire boats with everyone 'tanked up'..with skippers standing behind the tiller entering locks.. or distracted while entering locks ( did anyone see the David Hasselhof episode...where he steered the boat into a lock while conducting a radio interview on his mobile phone and amputated his daughters thumb as as a result !) I expect others have shared a lock with a hire boat...as I have done...and someones kids suddenly have a race to see who can get the paddles up quickest...while you thrash the engine and yell while shooting backwards.. A sudden move could leave you pulling the lanyard on the proposed 'kill switch' and you suddenly have no engine !! Like aircraft really...you can engineer in every emergency feature in the world...but it all comes down to proper understanding of safety and ensuring your crew abide by it. I am not a dominant person by heart...but....if any of my mates do anything to jepardise safety...I put them right..they don't like it...but I emphasise..it could save their lives... I can't see groups of lads/ laddettes...putting up with a spring loaded dead-mans handle...they would have it hooked onto something else in no time... The 'training' hire companies give just isn't enough...and the attitude some impart to hirers....that it is OK to hit things as its a contact sport...is disgraceful... I used to work in the tool hire business....if I gave a 15 ton machine to someone with 10 minutes training..and said it was OK to run into things ...I would have been in court..! I don't want to stop people enjoying a week or two on the canals...thats how I started...but I recall that I had no idea of safety at locks or how to operate them after my 10 minute intro from the hire company. I did learn to only use the green stuff for the loo and how to get it pumped out if it smelt !!.Maybe there should be a saftey booklet sent before hand and a quick 10 questions when they arrive to collect the boat. I can swim well...as can my wife....but we still don lifejackets when approaching locks..which is more than a lot of parents do with kids that look to be about 10 years old. God I sound boring don't I...? Time for bed..before my halo and wings arrive .! Bob

Who wants to know..?....what the heck does it matter if I'm grumpy.....you wanna argue ...?... I'm not grumpy....who are you to say I'm grumpy... Signed : Grumpy

We went off abroad...married...and registered it when we got back... Didn't need prrof of address...even when we returned... Bob

As I have said on here before...I have a 3 dongle and get 3gig fair usage a month for £5 by creating a user account on the 3 website...regsitering a credit card...and then purchasing 'internet add-ons'. Have used it for the past few years...you can purchase the add-on for next month...and it will queue it ready to go.. I let it expire once....but was able to just pucrhase and carry on. Bob

As I understand it...and I may missunderstand it.....it is only a timer mechanism to allow water in...thus...if your water pump gives a good pressure you may get overfilling...and if it doesn't...you may not get much of a flush. Someone told me they had fitted and extra switch to allow them to 'top' up the water slightly for more severe flushes...but I have no other info. Bob.